The bodies of the four girls who drowned in an unused gravel pit in Kasama District have been transported to Ndola District for burial.The girls were members of the same family in the Kapoka area of Kasama District aged between 13 and 20 drowned in an old gravel pit filled with rainwater.
Northern Province Police Commanding Officer, Lucky Munkondya, said the quartet, were identified as Tricia Kabangoni, 13, Anna Chirwa, 13, Gertrude Kabangoni, 17, and Mapalo Chirwa 20.
Ms. Munkondya disclosed that the four met their fate on Friday 26th April, 2024 around 11:00 hours after failing to swim in a gravel pit filled with water which is located in the Kasama Airport area and a few metres from the victims residence.
The uncle to the deceased, Eugene Chipanta, informed police that his four nieces left home at the material time for swimming at the dam and after being gone for a long time, he followed them, only to find their chitenge materials and foot wear on the sides of the pit. Acting on information from the victims’ uncle, Zambia Police Service officers based at the Kasama Airport rushed to the scene and quickly engaged the Kasama Municipal Council Fire Brigade who swiftly joined in the search.
All the four bodies were on Saturday 27th April, 2024 successfully retrieved and were deposited in the Kasama General Hospital Mortuary.
The girls are expected to be buried in Ndola .
Speaking during the send-off church service in honour of the four girls at the Evangelical Church of Zambia (ECZ) in Kasama today, Northern Province Education Officer Mulambwa Nawa described the deaths of the girls as a great loss to the family and the nation.
Mr Nawa said the Ministry of Education is saddened by the deaths of the girls, who were all pupils at different schools.
He stated that losing four members of the same family at the same time and in such a situation is devastating to the family.
Mr Nawa encouraged the family to be strong and remain united during this difficult time.
He said it was difficult to understand what happened and encouraged the family to leave everything in the hands of God.
Meanwhile, Kasama Mayor Theresa Kolala who attended the farewell service, said it is sad that lives have been lost at such a tender age.
She said this is not easy for the family and has called on God’s strength.
Mrs Kolala also thanked the Government through the Ministry of Local Government for allowing her to mourn with the family until they are buried in Ndola.
Hundreds of mourners from different sections, including pupils and teachers from different schools in Kasama District turned up to pay their last respects to the departed girls.
So, so sad to lose so many young lives in such circumstances. The Ministry of Education should consider swimming as a sport also so that everyone is equipped with swimming skills at school as it can be a life-saving skill. It’s all the more reason why pits ought to be filled up and the ground restored to its natural state at the end of mining operations.
Those gravel, building and river sand extraction sights leave ditches and pits allover the country. These excavations are an environmental hazard not only to human beings but other creatures like animals. Therefore, they are supposed to reclaim or restore the areas to their natural state before they started digging into the land
The only way this can work is to abolish illegal mining of these building materials and instead they should get licences from either Zambia Environmental Management Agency or Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development
This resource belongs to the nation so everyone must participate through the diggers or miners paying a fee
Now it might be argued that this action will make the diggers or miners of this building materials suffer loses
Well in that case the cost must be passed on to contractors who have been getting this material for almost free in the past and modalities can be worked out
I submit
Senior Citizen
I pray that the Ministry of the Environment reintroduces the position of Forest Rangers. These people can be key to identification of all disused gravel, building and river sand trenches and pits scattered all over the country
The Environmental Project Fund can be used to rehabilitate these sights to at least an approximate original contour thus saving lives of human beings and animals
Very sad
I am surprised that you tribalists have not blamed HH for this (yet)
May His souls rest easy
Deeply saddened by the loss of life. May the deceased rest in peace. My sincerest condolences go out to the family and loved ones. I implore you to stop mining activities and prioritise securing these pits to prevent such devastating incidents from happening again in areas such as this.
The story doesnt explain why they are being moved so far away to Ndola
I think their biological parents are in Ndola.